Special Hands Shoppe in Middlefield Village serves multiple purposes

Celeste Amicarelli works on the floor of the Special Hands Shoppe that recently opened at 15910 West High Street in Middlefield. The store, featuring handmade products, antiques and local consignment items, is operated by Metzenbaum Sheltered Industries

Several sets of special hands operate the newly opened Special Hands Shoppe in Middlefield Village.

Initiated by the Metzenbaum Sheltered Industries workshop division of the Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities based in Chester Township, the new store opened in June.

MSI Executive Director James Groner noted that organizers steered away from creating a thrift store concept. Rather, inventory is a mix of antiques and either new or gently used items which are donated or obtained through consignment agreements.

“We wanted to have a store where a shopper can come and buy a variety of items all in one place,” Groner said. “I don’t know that there’s another store like this in Middlefield.”

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Of the 4,500 square feet, 3,000 is dedicated to retail sales. Eventually that space may expand, Groner said.

Middlefield Village officials have been very welcoming of the new enterprise.

“(They) want us to do well” Groner said. “(Mayor) Ben Garlich and others have been very supportive.”

On a recent afternoon a sampling of products offered in the store varied from new, wooden Adirondack chairs to an antique dresser and old-fashioned pipe stand. Original jewelry crafted by MSI workers was stationed near a case filled with vintage items including an old whaling spear connected to a cable.

Groner noted that many shoppers visit the store seeking collectibles as well as toys and household goods.

“Sales have been tremendous,” he said. “We can’t keep furniture on the floor. As soon as something comes in, it’s sold. We’ve done so well because we’re reasonably priced … the price is right.”

A set of decorative wicker trays were marked at $4 each and an antique pedometer carried a price tag of $10.

All wares are either made, handled or sold by a person in the MSI program.

“Our goal was to serve people in their own backyard, and a lot of people we serve are from the Middlefield area,” Groner said.

Lindsey Anspach of Chagrin Falls is one of 20 MSI participants staffing the store.

“I like helping people out,” she said. Among her duties are serving as a cashier and setting up stock.

The type of work offered differs from one- and two-step tasks often associated with developmentally disabled employees.

“They have work that they’ve never had the opportunity to do before,” Groner said. He added that skills such as greeting people, handling phone calls and working with money are being developed.

Each staff member expressed an interest in working at the store prior to their hiring, and several now exude a sense of pride in their accomplishments.

Another benefit of the operation is the accessibility of family members.

“A lot of people are being served in Chester Township,” Groner said. “Families couldn’t visit them. Now they can. We have an open door policy.”

The Geauga County Board of Developmental Disabilities, known as The Bessie Benner Metzenbaum Center, was started in 1966 to help individuals in Geauga County with developmental disabilities. Services begin at birth and continue with preschool and school programs and last through adulthood. The Metzenbaum Center supports more than 700 individuals and their families in Geauga County.